Soda machine causes fire

December 14, 2010

An employee of Zaxby's restaurant on N.C. 16 called 9-1-1 shortly before 1 p.m. to report an electrical fire in the restaurant's fountain drink machine.

About 10 Conover firefighters responded to the scene and turned off power to the machine, causing the flames to die down, said Conover Fire Chief J. Mark Hinson.

Damage to the restaurant was minimal. About 15 people, including customers and employees were in the restaurant at the time of the fire. They were briefly evacuated from the building to allow the smoke and electrical fire smell to clear from the dining room, Hinson said.

The fire originated from the electrical box on the back of the fountain drink machine, Hinson said.